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Gardening and farming in rural north Idaho has many joys and some challenges-- Zone 4 climate, plant predators/ visitors up to and including moose; sudden weather extremes (we get maritime weather off the Pacific and continental weather down from Alberta & BC). Specializing in herbs and fragrant plants led first to a keen interest in cooking with herbs, and then to soapmaking. Any one day's work might see fence fixing, pruning, soapmaking, gathering botanicals, oohing at the elk herd parading past.

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February 11, 2009

I have always loved Delphiniums, that's not news. What is news, is the fabulous gift of species Delphinium seeds in many varieties from one of my favorite seed catalogs, JL Hudson. Depending upon the crop I get, and how they like this climate, there should be several new entries in the plants catalog next season. These I have not grown before: D. glaucum, occidentale, and virescens, so they will be especially welcome to the test beds. In the cold greenhouses, I've got D. zalil popping their heads up from a short winter nap in their plug trays, and D. ramosum if my little map is correct (and my glasses clean!). I always think I prefer the big doubles with their powerful color, but then when the species bloom, I fall for them immediately too. The dinky D. nudicaule with even reddish stems and roots to go along with their cheery red flowers caught my heart last spring; wonder which one it will be this year?

February 2, 2009

With the snow covering everything, it's hard sometimes to remember what's going on underneath.While I try not to think about voles, I am happy to think of plants slowly snoozing along getting ready to burst forth, while I begin the seed sowing for the year.Catalog editing is coming along too, and plans for some new plant ranges for spring.I've been doing some sketchbook work for myself on more art-related things, and in that vein, here is a link to a post with some lovely photos on one of my favorite topics, Blue. This floret is from one of my Summer Skies Delphiniums, a long time favorite.